British Judo received a much-needed fillip this week when Euan Burton won bronze at the World Masters in Kazakhstan. The event, a face-off for the world's top 16 judoka in each weight class, featured many athletes expected at the Games this year, and Burton is convinced he can do better.

The head coach, performance director and women's coach of British Judo were removed last year when the organisation took action in a bid to put its Olympic campaign back on track. Burton's medal in the 81kg category is a step in the right direction.

"I was a little bit disappointed that I didn't make the final. I think I could have won the event," says Burton, who competes on Sunday at the British Closed Championships in Sheffield.

"I'm sure for the British team, after not great results at the last world championships, it is good for them to have a player medalling at what is a flagship event for international judo."

A start, but not enough for the determined Burton. "It's probably good that I am disappointed with third place because it means I'm not settling for just a medal. I want to be on the top of the rostrum," he says.

He finished seventh in Beijing which was followed by European and world bronze medals in 2010. But London will be special, Burton says: "There's nothing better in an Olympic athlete's career than being at the Olympic Games and representing your country and if you can do that in your own country, then its massively exciting. There's no denying there's more pressure as well."

Which is something he feels well placed to cope with. "When you're an international athlete in whatever sport, particularly a sport like judo where you're fighting, you become very good at dealing with pressure. It's part of your day to day in training and its definitely part of competing." Come August, the ultimate competition may put his assertion to the test.

Lagging on legacy

The ongoing financial crisis poses a serious threat to an increase in grassroots participation, hoped to be part of the Olympic legacy, that is reaching a "critical point", a survey has revealed. The poll of clubs, conducted by the Sport and Recreation Alliance, found that since 2008 average income has fallen by 15%, adult membership by 11%, and just over half have been breaking even or losing money.

Price rises, local government funding cuts and a lack of investment are thought to be factors in the declines. "A number of good schemes to promote a legacy from the Games are now reaching a critical point," said Tim Lamb, chief executive of the Alliance. "It's vital that local and central government work closely with the sector to deliver the full potential of the Games to get people more active.

"The survey shows clubs are finding it hard right now. The pressure of cuts is bound to have an effect on clubs who rely on local authority facilities to offer their activities to members."

Ticket news, part 10 ...

The resale website crashed to much furore, but it has reopened now and unwanted tickets can be sold back at face value until 6pm on 3 February.

They will be resold as part of the final tranche of about 1.3m tickets that will be available in April when venues are finalised. Organisers insist that when this sale occurs the intention is still to give priority to unsuccessful applicants, but they have yet to reveal the mechanics of exactly how.

Happily functioning without mishap are sales for the Diving World Cup, a test event, featuring Tom Daly at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park from 20 February.